The Country Burger & Teriyaki restaurant in Kent caught fire early Thursday morning, but nobody was hurt and firefighters were able to get it under control. According to Puget Sound Fire, crews arrived at the restaurant at 1605 W. Meeker St. at about 3:45 a.m. to find smoke and flames in the back part of the restaurant.
- PUB DATE: 7/12/2018 7:23:57 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

City Councilor Bob Hamel is facing criticism for his remarks at a Monday night meeting during a prickly exchange with the head of the union that represents city firefighters. It is the height of budget season in Laconia, which has a tax cap in place, and the council and fire department have clashed in recent weeks over the cost of overtime for firefighters.
- PUB DATE: 7/12/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Manchester Union Leader

Fairfax County’s next fire chief will be a veteran firefighter who has led Howard County’s fire department for the past four years and served two combat tours as a Marine, the Board of Supervisors has announced. John S. Butler is set to take over the 1,400-strong department in September, replacing Richard Bowers, who retired in April.
- PUB DATE: 7/12/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Washington Post

Fire destroyed a Safeway grocery store in Phoenix Wednesday evening, engulfing the building in flames for more than an hour and producing a tower of smoke that could be seen for miles. Phoenix fire officials said a roof on the building apparently had collapsed during a storm that brought a heavy downpour in the area prior to the fire.
- PUB DATE: 7/12/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com & KPNX-TV NBC 12 Phoenix

Houston Fire Department leaders on Tuesday proposed a sharp hike in ambulance fees, floating several new charges they hope will prevent repeat callers from using the city’s emergency medical services as a convenience. Ambulance transport fees would rise 70 percent, to $1,876; the accompanying $14.36-per-mile fee would not change.
- PUB DATE: 7/12/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Houston Chronicle